Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09ASTANA1177
2009-07-13 10:44:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Astana
Cable title:
KAZAKHSTAN: ALMATY NOTES, JUNE 29 - JULY 12
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UNCLAS ASTANA 001177
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PHUM ECON ELAB SOCI KDEM KCRM KZ
SUBJECT: KAZAKHSTAN: ALMATY NOTES, JUNE 29 - JULY 12
UNCLAS ASTANA 001177
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PHUM ECON ELAB SOCI KDEM KCRM KZ
SUBJECT: KAZAKHSTAN: ALMATY NOTES, JUNE 29 - JULY 12
1. The "Almaty Notes" series from U.S. Office Almaty focuses on
developments in civil society, the media, and the political
opposition in Kazakhstan's "southern capital."
TUYAKBAY APPEALS TO NAZARBAYEV
2. On July 1, opposition National Social Democratic Party leader
Zharmakhan Tuyakbay addressed an open letter to President Nazarbayev
to express his concern about how the government's anti-corruption
campaign is being conducted. Tuyakbay maintains that it is a
selective campaign which aims to create "an atmosphere of fear" --
just as during the Stalinist repressions of the 1930s. (COMMENT:
This is a gross exaggeration by any standard. The repressions of
the 1930s were marked by the arrest and murder of several million
people; Kazakhstan's anti-corruption campaign has resulted in the
arrest of a small -- though growing -- number of government
officials. END COMMENT.) In his letter, Tuyakbay cited several
recent cases of concern, including the prosecution of opposition
leaders Bulat Abilov, Asylbek Kozhakhmetov, and Tolen Tokhtasynov;
the arrests of senior officials at state nuclear company
Kazatomprom; and the ongoing trial of journalist Ramazan Yesergepov.
Tuyakbay stressed that in the last two cases, the lawyers of the
accused were not permitted to see and defend their clients. He
called on Nazarbayev to curb illegal practices in the law
enforcement system.
ALMATY FACTORY WORKERS STRIKE
3. On June 30, approximately 2,000 workers from the Almaty Railroad
Car Repair Factory went on strike. The workers' complaints included
low wages, constant delays in salary payments, and difficult work
conditions. They addressed a letter to Prime Minister Masimov
demanding the factory's nationalization. Their request to hold a
protest rally on Almaty's outskirts was denied by the city
administration. The National Social Democratic Party announced its
solidarity with the workers.
4. Opposition journalist Yermurat Bapi claimed that the strike did
not actually result from socio-economic problems at the factory, but
rather was instigated by powerful business clans who seek the
dismissal Askar Mamin, head of the national railway company,
Kazakhstan Temirzholy. On July 4, the workers suspended the strike
"because many problems, including wage arrears have been resolved."
KAZAKHSTAN-2012 MOVEMENT
5. On July 4, about 100 activists from the Kazakhstan-2012 movement
-- which unites "dolshiki" (i.e., Kazakhstanis who invested money in
apartments that have not been completed) and individuals with
burdensome mortgages -- held a protest at the entrance to Almaty's
Saudakent market. The police and market security guards blocked the
entrance and refused to let the activists in. The activists thus
conducted their rally outdoors. Workers from the Almaty Railroad
Car Repair Factory came to the protest to express their solidarity.
CONSTRUCTION COMPANY MANAGERS CONVICTED
6. In Almaty, the top managers of the BC-Group construction company
have been brought to justice for embezzling money private citizens
invested into building new apartments. The company's director was
sentenced to 12 years in jail and its other top officials to various
terms in prison ranging from 7 to 11 years.
HOAGLAND
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PHUM ECON ELAB SOCI KDEM KCRM KZ
SUBJECT: KAZAKHSTAN: ALMATY NOTES, JUNE 29 - JULY 12
1. The "Almaty Notes" series from U.S. Office Almaty focuses on
developments in civil society, the media, and the political
opposition in Kazakhstan's "southern capital."
TUYAKBAY APPEALS TO NAZARBAYEV
2. On July 1, opposition National Social Democratic Party leader
Zharmakhan Tuyakbay addressed an open letter to President Nazarbayev
to express his concern about how the government's anti-corruption
campaign is being conducted. Tuyakbay maintains that it is a
selective campaign which aims to create "an atmosphere of fear" --
just as during the Stalinist repressions of the 1930s. (COMMENT:
This is a gross exaggeration by any standard. The repressions of
the 1930s were marked by the arrest and murder of several million
people; Kazakhstan's anti-corruption campaign has resulted in the
arrest of a small -- though growing -- number of government
officials. END COMMENT.) In his letter, Tuyakbay cited several
recent cases of concern, including the prosecution of opposition
leaders Bulat Abilov, Asylbek Kozhakhmetov, and Tolen Tokhtasynov;
the arrests of senior officials at state nuclear company
Kazatomprom; and the ongoing trial of journalist Ramazan Yesergepov.
Tuyakbay stressed that in the last two cases, the lawyers of the
accused were not permitted to see and defend their clients. He
called on Nazarbayev to curb illegal practices in the law
enforcement system.
ALMATY FACTORY WORKERS STRIKE
3. On June 30, approximately 2,000 workers from the Almaty Railroad
Car Repair Factory went on strike. The workers' complaints included
low wages, constant delays in salary payments, and difficult work
conditions. They addressed a letter to Prime Minister Masimov
demanding the factory's nationalization. Their request to hold a
protest rally on Almaty's outskirts was denied by the city
administration. The National Social Democratic Party announced its
solidarity with the workers.
4. Opposition journalist Yermurat Bapi claimed that the strike did
not actually result from socio-economic problems at the factory, but
rather was instigated by powerful business clans who seek the
dismissal Askar Mamin, head of the national railway company,
Kazakhstan Temirzholy. On July 4, the workers suspended the strike
"because many problems, including wage arrears have been resolved."
KAZAKHSTAN-2012 MOVEMENT
5. On July 4, about 100 activists from the Kazakhstan-2012 movement
-- which unites "dolshiki" (i.e., Kazakhstanis who invested money in
apartments that have not been completed) and individuals with
burdensome mortgages -- held a protest at the entrance to Almaty's
Saudakent market. The police and market security guards blocked the
entrance and refused to let the activists in. The activists thus
conducted their rally outdoors. Workers from the Almaty Railroad
Car Repair Factory came to the protest to express their solidarity.
CONSTRUCTION COMPANY MANAGERS CONVICTED
6. In Almaty, the top managers of the BC-Group construction company
have been brought to justice for embezzling money private citizens
invested into building new apartments. The company's director was
sentenced to 12 years in jail and its other top officials to various
terms in prison ranging from 7 to 11 years.
HOAGLAND